About us

Gatineau combines natural ingredients with cutting-edge biotechnology to create an advanced range of skincare. Rooted in beauty therapy, our salon quality products have been developed alongside a range of beauty treatments and are used by skincare professionals worldwide. Specialising in anti-ageing, our products provide highly visible results for a younger looking you.

Our Story

‘If one had to choose one of the most inspiring stories in the history of French cosmetics…it would certainly be that of Jeanne Gatineau’-Les Nouvelles Esthetiques.

Our story began in Paris over eighty years ago with a visionary beauty therapist, Madame Jeanne Gatineau. A woman with a true passion for beauty, she set out to provide revolutionary skincare solutions for women.

She opened her first salon in 1932 and immediately began to develop her own skincare products to accompany her avant-garde treatment techniques. Through her collaboration with experienced dermatologists and bio-chemists she quickly became renowned with in the world of skin care. The Jeanne Gatineau School of Beauty opened in Paris in 1950 and provided expert training to thousands of students. The demand for Gatineau’s unique and innovative expertise led to the manufacture of products for home use and Gatineau, as we know it today, was born.

Over the years Jeanne Gatineau’s pioneering research and development resulted in cosmetic breakthroughs that have been stepping stones for the industry. The first beauty house in the world to develop an exfoliator and alcohol-free cleansers and toners, we were quick to establish ourselves as a skincare brand that anticipates the needs and expectations of women.

‘In 1932, I created a brand of excellence for the most discerning of women.’- Jeanne Gatineau.

Our History

1930s

Jeanne Gatineau's skincare empire is rooted in humble beginnings. Determined to pursue her passion, she established a home beauty treatment business providing beauty therapy to the women of Paris. Soon, her avant-garde treatment techniques were in high demand and she became a renowned figure within the budding Parisian beauty scene.

At the age of 52, Jeanne Gatineau opened her first beauty salon where she not only shared her passion, but developed her knowledge of what women want from their skincare products.

1930s

1940s

Jeanne Gatineau began to study the work of Alexis Carrol, a French scientist and Nobel Prize winner. Here, she envisioned a skincare range with a difference. His specialism in the ageing of skin cells inspired her scientific approach to skincare. Fascinated by what she had learnt, Jeanne Gatineau worked with dermatologists and biochemists to develop her very first range of skincare products.

1940s

1950s

In 1950, Jeanne Gatineau opened the world's first beauty school where she shared her in-depth knowledge of skincare with thousands of beauticians. An incredible success, schools opened in both Brussels and Milan.

Jeanne Gatineau continued to collaborate with experts in her field and developed many incredible products. Through her knowledge of skincare, she recognised the benefits of exfoliating to brighten the complexion and created the world's first facial scrub. Other firsts included alcohol free cleansers and toners, some of which are still sold to this day.

1950s

1960s

By the 1960s Jeanne Gatineau's position at the forefront of the skincare industry was undisputed. Having developed a range of phenomenal products and forever changing women's expectations of skincare, Jeanne Gatineau retired at the age of 71. The beauty school was taken over by her daughter, allowing Gatineau's incredible knowledge of skincare to be passed onto the next generation.

1960s

1970s

As Jeanne Gatineau's knowledge of skincare was passed on, so too was her vision for incorporating the latest cosmetic innovations into skincare products. Following the success of the first exfolitant, the brand continued to focus on products which brightened the complexion. As a result, we were the first skincare house to discover and implement the benefits of caffeine, antioxidants and vitamins E and F to encourage cellular detoxification and radiance enhancement.

1970s

1980s

Though the 1980s saw a huge increase in cosmetic research, Gatineau remained at the leading-edge of skincare. As the first to discover the powerful anti-ageing properties of Retinol, we continued to advance the field whilst furthering Jeanne Gatineau's founding vision.

1980s

1990s

From a one woman venture started in a Parisian apartment, to a business firmly established within the skincare industry, the 1990s saw Jeanne Gatineau transformed into GATINEAU, a globally recognised brand.

Many successful product releases followed and, with a continuing focus on anti-ageing, Gatineau remained a specialist in the field. Laser, the first intensive anti-ageing treatment to mimic the resurfacing effects of laser, was a significant scientific advancement and proved hugely popular.

1990s

2000s

The decade saw the launch of Mélatogénine. Still sold today, the ground-breaking anti-ageing range utilises Gatineau's patented youth molecule to block the damaging effects of free radicals and prolong youthful skin. It was recognised by l'Officiel de la Beauté as an outstanding product, alongside the international award winning Mélatogénine facial.

2000s

2017

Today, even as a global brand, our values remain deeply rooted in our heritage. With skincare products that continue to advance the field and a worldwide reputation as an anti-ageing specialist, Jeanne Gatineau's pioneering spirit is as integral now as it was 80 years ago.

2017

Our Values

Brand Heritage

Proudly celebrating 83 years, from Jeanne Gatineau's Parisian beauty salon in the 1930s to the global professional skincare brand we know today.

Research and Technology

A brand that takes inspiration from the latest biotechnology to develop high-performance products.

Expertise

Safety and Efficacy

All our products undergo rigorous testing and clinical trials to ensure they deliver highly visible results. We do not test on animals and our formulas do not contain genetically-modified material.

Professionalism

Found in salons in nearly 50 countries worldwide, we are a professional brand you can trust.

Our Vision

When Jeanne Gatineau established her brand in 1932 she had a clear vision for the future of skincare. She knew that combining natural ingredients with cutting edge bio-technology would give women the visible results they wanted. She collaborated with dermatologists and doctors and pushed the boundaries of cosmetic technology to develop her first range of innovative skincare products.

Nearly a century later, our vision for skincare has remained unchanged. We continue to combine the best from science and nature to create a range of premium products that deliver outstanding results. Today, we are a global brand highly regarded by beauty experts around the world and we remain committed to Jeanne Gatineau’s vision of providing women with innovative and effective skincare products of the highest quality.